April 12, 2012

Apple Sued for use of Touchscreen Technologies in iPhone & iPad

Texas based Touchscreen Gestures LLC is suing Apple for patent infringement. The lawsuit is based on four specific patents covering various touch related technologies that they claim the iPhone and iPad infringe upon. After the "Discovery" phase, Touchscreen Gestures LLC believes that the facts point to Apple's willful infringement. It should be pointed out that Apple is in possession of many granted patents regarding multi-touch technology, the particular type of touch technology that debuted on the iPhone in 2007. Touchscreen Gesture patents don't appear to relate to multi-touch technologies in any way.

The Alleged Patent Infringements

Touchscreen Gestures LLC has filed four counts of patent infringement against Apple Inc. regarding touch based technologies. All of the patents stem from Sentelic Corporation of Taiwan. Touchscreen claims on each count against Apple that they're now the owner of all rights, title and interests of each patent listed in the infringement lawsuit.

Count One

In Touchscreen Gestures Count One, the formal complaint states that their 7,184,031 patent "is generally directed to novel, unique and non-obvious methods, controllers and gesture units for identifying a drag gesture on a touch device, such as smartphone or tablet.

On information and belief, Apple has been and now is infringing the '031 Patent in the State of Texas, in this judicial district, and elsewhere in the United States by making, using, importing, selling or offering to sell touch devices that incorporate methods, controllers and gesture units according to the '031 Patent. On information and belief, examples of Apple products that infringe the '031 Patent include, but are not limited to, the "iPhone" smartphone and the "iPad" tablet which allow the identification of drag gestures via methods, controllers and gestures units that infringe claims of the '031 Patent. Apple is thus liable for infringement of the '031 Patent" according to the plaintiff.

Count Two

In Touchscreen Gestures Count Two, the official complaint states that their 7,180, 506 Patent "is generally directed to novel, unique and non-obvious methods and controllers of identifying a movement of single tap which is a movement done with at least an object contacting a touch device, such as smartphone or tablet."

The plaintiff continues by stating that "On information and belief, examples of Apple products that infringe the '506 Patent include, but are not limited to, the "iPhone" smartphone and the "iPad" tablet which allow the identification of a movement of single tap which is a movement done with at least an object contacting a touch device and which therefore infringe claims of the '506 Patent."

Count Three

In Touchscreen Gestures Count Three, the official complaint states that their 7,190,356 Patent "is generally directed to novel, unique and non-obvious methods and controllers of identifying double tap gestures on a touch device movement of single tap which is a movement done with at least an object contacting a touch device, such as smartphone or tablet.

On information and belief, examples of Apple products that infringe the '356 Patent include, but are not limited to, the "iPhone" smartphone and the "iPad" tablet which allow the identification of double tap gestures on a touch device and which therefore infringe claims of the '356 Patent."

Count Four

In Touchscreen Gestures Count Four, the official complaint states that their 7,319 457 Patent "is generally directed to novel, unique and non-obvious methods and electronic devices of scrolling a window screen, such as those on a smartphone or tablet.

On information and belief, examples of Apple products that infringe the '457 Patent include, but are not limited to, the "iPhone" smartphone and the "iPad" tablet which allow users to scroll window screens of a touch device and which therefore infringe claims of the '457 Patent.

The case was filed in the United States District Court for Eastern District of Texas. The presiding Judge in this case is noted as being Judge Leonard Davis. It should be pointed out that Apple isn't the only one that Touchscreen Gestures is suing. A simple Google search of "Touchscreen Gestures LLC" returns with the fact that they're also suing HTC, Samsung and Research in Motion with the very same patents.

Notice:Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of certain legal cases/ lawsuits which are part of the public record for journalistic news purposes. Readers are cautioned that Patently Apple does not offer an opinion on the merit of the case and strictly presents the allegations made in said legal cases / lawsuits. A lawyer should be consulted for any further details or analysis. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments. On most legal cases, comments will be closed. See our Legal Archives for other patent infringement cases.

Comments

I read through these patents, filed in 2004 and granted in 2007... and there is NOTHING new or novel about them. Especially the double click one. The patent examiner must have been asleep. Such art existed prior to 2004 on touch screens for a long time. . . the "inventor" merely wrote down a method for doing it... a simplistic method in all cases. These will not stand.